More questions for a future leader

In my previous log about leadership development Preparing to be a leader I put forward several questions a leader could ask himself to analyze his surroundings. A future leader can also ask himself questions about himself before he takes on his role as leader. Those questions could be:

- Why do I want to lead?

• Because I want to control?
• Do I want to be noticed or do I want security?

- How do I want to lead?

• Am I going to be leading or supporting?
• Will I keep my distance or will I cooperate?
• Do I want to be the best or do I want to create cooperation?

- How do I see the employees, I am going to lead?

• They are independent, mature employees.
• My employees still need to learn a lot and I will have to teach them.
• I will need to support my employees to learn their skills and responsibilities.
• Do I want to order and let them do their job or do I want to tell them how they should do their job?

- What do I want to achieve with my leadership?

• Should it make the organization successful?
• Should I be successful?
• Should my department be successful?

- How do I see myself?

• Am I the master and are my employees the pupils?
• Am I the only one who knows how everything should be done?
• I am only the messenger, not the maker of policy.
• I am like a father to my employees, who should protect them against the unknowns from outside the department.

- What do I feel, when thinking of leading others?

• It feels good.
• I feel insecure.
• I am afraid.
• I have bad premonitions.

These questions can be expanded.

- What are my strong points?
- Why was I chosen?

• I am the best in my field.
• I adjust my behavior to the organization policy.
• I adjust myself to my colleagues.
• I do what I am told, without asking questions.
• I ask questions about orders and the policy of the organization.